New York, NY, 26 April, 2011 – The Elsevier journal Biomaterials announced the introduction of two initiatives in 2011 that test and push the boundaries of this important subject. These reflect the massively shifting field of biomaterials science and proactively engage in debates about where this field is leading us.

The first concerns the change in subject sections included in the journal. This represents the rapidly moving subject area, which is increasingly interdisciplinary and splintering into new and emerging sub fields. One of these new sections may be highlighted as particularly timely given recent scientific developments in advanced, materials-based cancer technologies: Biomaterials and Cancer.

“The journal has always published the occasional papers that deal with some aspects of cancer, but these developments are now so profound that they need a focus of their own,” said David F. Williams, Editor-in-Chief of Biomaterials.

The journal is now accepting papers on cancer, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, imaging and diagnostics, theranostics, cancer modelling, carcinogenicity and other biomaterials related aspects of cancer.

Separate and additional to these sections, is the introduction of an entirely new format to present scientific opinion. This change is a response to the many areas within biomaterials science where all the facts are not yet known, but where informed opinions could be valuable in shaping the future. The journal will have the occasional “Debate Section” - leading opinion papers are highlighted, linked together in debate format, which are intentionally controversial and speculative. The aim of these contributions is to inform and engage the scientific community around important topics.

“Building on the success of the journal thus far, Elsevier expects the journal to become a premiere publication for papers dealing with materials-based cancer technologies, as well as providing a unique outlet for the exploration of new ideas and technologies happening at the forefront of the field,” commented Allyn Molina, Elsevier Publisher.

The first issue of Biomaterials featuring the Debate Section can be located at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/issue/5558-2011-999679981-3131736

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About Biomaterials Biomaterials is an international journal covering the science and clinical application of biomaterials. A biomaterial is now defined as a substance that has been engineered to take a form which, alone or as part of a complex system, is used to direct, by control of interactions with components of living systems, the course of any therapeutic or diagnostic procedure. It is the aim of the journal to provide a peer-reviewed forum for the publication of original papers and authoritative review and opinion papers dealing with the most important issues facing the use of biomaterials in clinical practice. The scope of the journal covers the wide range of physical, biological and chemical sciences that underpin the design of biomaterials and the clinical disciplines in which they are used. These sciences include polymer synthesis and characterization, drug and gene vector design, the biology of the host response, immunology and toxicology and self assembly at the nanoscale. Clinical applications include the therapies of medical technology and regenerative medicine in all clinical disciplines, and diagnostic systems that reply on innovative contrast and sensing agents. The journal is relevant to areas such as cancer diagnosis and therapy, implantable devices, drug delivery systems, gene vectors, bionanotechnology and tissue engineering.

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